Determining eligibility for multiple client media streaming

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and devices to authorize access to a simultaneous media streams are described. After a first media stream is initiated with a first client device, an authorization service receives a request to establish the simultaneous second media stream with a second client device. The service determines whether the second client device is at a geographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and grants or denies access to the second simultaneous stream accordingly.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/827,839 filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/747,095, filed Dec. 28, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to streaming media. Moreparticularly, the following discussion relates to systems, methods anddevices to determine eligibility to receive multiple simultaneous mediastreams.

BACKGROUND

Media streaming is becoming an increasingly popular way of deliveringtelevision, movies and other media content to viewers. Media streams aretypically point-to-point transmissions of digitized content that can besent over the Internet or a similar network. Media streaming is oftenused to facilitate video on demand (VOD), remote storage digital videorecorder (RSDVR), placeshifted media viewing and/or any number of otherconvenient services. Generally, the media stream is played back for theviewer in real time as the stream continues to be delivered to theplayer.

Media streaming is often favored over other types of content deliverybecause of its versatility. Unlike traditional television broadcasts,for example, media streams can often be sent to many different types ofdevices such as mobile phones, set top boxes and other televisionreceivers, personal computers, tablet computers, video game players andthe like. Streaming media often allows media content to be delivered atany time and to any place that network connectivity is available,thereby allowing a high level of flexibility.

The increased flexibility, however, can create challenges in controllingthe distribution of media content while protecting the intellectualproperty rights of media content owners. Often, media content owners arereluctant to allow streaming of their valuable media content unless theycan be assured that the streamed content will not be improperlyduplicated or used for other undesired purposes. This can be aparticular challenge if viewers are allowed to receive multiplesimultaneous streams. While some video streaming services simply limiteach user to a single stream at any particular time, this restriction isbecoming unduly burdensome, especially as mobile phones, tabletcomputers and other devices that are capable of media playback becomemore widespread.

It is therefore desirable to build systems, devices and techniques fordetermining whether a user device is eligible to receive a media stream,particularly if the same user is currently receiving a different mediastream using a different device. These and other desirable features andcharacteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detaileddescription and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and this background section.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Several examples of systems, devices and methods are described fordetermining eligibility to receive multiple simultaneous media streamsbased upon geographic or mobility information about the player device.According to various embodiments, multiple simultaneous media streamscan be allowed to devices that are located in the same geographicvicinity while disallowing or limiting streams to devices in otherlocations. This allows, for example, multiple streams into a singlehome, office or other environment while still limiting streams that maybe provided to mobile devices that are traveling to other geographiclocations. A user could receive multiple concurrent streams usingmultiple playback devices within the home, for example, even thoughstreaming is limited to devices located outside of the home. Any numberof business rules could be implemented and enforced to allow or disallowstreaming as desired.

One exemplary embodiment provides a method to authorize access to asimultaneous second media stream. This method suitably comprises variousfunctions that may be carried out by a network server or other computersystem. For example, a request is received at the computer system toestablish the simultaneous second media stream with a second clientdevice, wherein the request is received after a first media stream hasbeen initiated with a first client device that is different from thesecond client device. The computer system determines whether the secondclient device is located at a geographic location where simultaneousstreaming is allowed. If the second client device is located at thegeographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, thecomputer system grants the second client device access to thesimultaneous second media stream and otherwise denies the second clientdevice access to the simultaneous second media stream.

Another exemplary embodiment provides a computer system to authorizeaccess to a simultaneous second media stream with a second client deviceafter a first media stream has been established with a first clientdevice. The computer system suitably comprises an interface to a networkand a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request toestablish the simultaneous second media stream with the second clientdevice, to determine whether the second client device is located at ageographic location where simultaneous streaming is allowed, and, if thesecond client device is located at the geographic location wheresimultaneous streaming is allowed, to grant the second client deviceaccess to the simultaneous second media stream and to otherwise deny thesecond client device access to the simultaneous second media stream.

Still another exemplary embodiment provides a method executable by acomputer system to authorize access to simultaneous media streams by auser. This method suitably comprises receiving a first request toestablish a first media stream with a first client device associatedwith the user; authorizing the first media connection with the firstclient device; after authorizing the first media connection, receiving asecond request to establish a simultaneous second media stream with asecond client device associated with the user; determining if the secondmedia stream with the second client device is authorized based uponmobility information about the second client device; and, if thesimultaneous second media stream is authorized, granting the secondclient device access to the simultaneous second media stream andotherwise denying the second client device access to the simultaneoussecond media stream.

Alternate embodiments, aspects and other features are described in moredetail herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for determiningeligibility to receive simultaneous media streams at client devices;

FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram showing an exemplary process fordetermining eligibility to receive simultaneous media streams at clientdevices; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for determiningeligibility to receive simultaneous media streams at client devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplaryin nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the applicationand uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to bebound by any theory presented in the preceding background or thefollowing detailed description.

According to various embodiments, mobility factors relating to thereceiving devices themselves are used to determine eligibility toreceive multiple simultaneous media streams. Mobility factors mayinclude the type of device (e.g., mobile or stationary device), thedevice's local or wide area network address, and/or any otherinformation that provides information about a geographic location of thedevice.

If the geographic location of the device can be determined with at leastsome particularity, then the authorization system can apply businessrules to grant or deny access to particular media streams. Businessrules could dictate that certain content is limited to viewing at a homelocation only, for example, or that the number of streams provided toviewers in different locations can be restricted to prevent passwordsharing or other forms of abuse. Various business rules can be combinedin any manner. Multiple simultaneous streams could be allowed into ahome, for example, while only a single stream is allowed to a mobiledevice or other location away from the home. Any number of otherbusiness rules or other approval schemes could be supplemented orequivalently used, and several examples are described in more detailbelow.

Turning now to the drawing figures and with initial reference to FIG. 1,an exemplary authorization system 101 suitably includes a computersystem 120 that grants or denies access to media streams provided on anetwork 115 based upon mobility factors, as described more fully herein.In some implementations, access is granted or denied in accordance withbusiness rules 128 that govern media streams provided to certainlocations. Multiple media streams may be allowed into home environment102, for example, even if the streams are being played by differentdevices 105-108. Business rules 128 may also limit or restrict mediastreams that are provided outside of home environment 102. If a mobilephone 105, computer 106 or other device leaves environment 102 andconnects to network 115 in another manner, then this change in locationcan be identified and addressed accordingly.

Computer system 120 is any sort of server or other computer capable ofcommunicating on network 115. Computer system 120 typically includes aconventional processor 121, memory 122 and input/output interfaces 123to support data processing and the other functions described herein. Ina typical implementation, processor 121 executes a software program 124that resides memory 122. Equivalent embodiments may execute multiplecopies of software program 124 using shared computing hardware, as in a“cloud” server or the like.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, software program 124includes appropriate modules, routines and/or other processing logic 129to receive requests for media streams from devices 105-108, to processmobility information 127 about the device requesting the media stream,and to apply appropriate business rules 128 in granting or denyingaccess to the stream as appropriate. Mobility information 127 may relateto the network address of the requesting device, a global positioningsystem (GPS) or other report of the requesting device's location, thetype of device (e.g., stationary or mobile) requesting the stream, orany other information as appropriate. In some embodiments, system 120may consult a geo-location database 126 or similar service that is ableto identify the geographic location of the requesting device based uponthe IP or other network address of the requesting device. Computerserver 120 may also consider an account database 125 to authenticateusers based upon userid/password data, biometric data, or any otherdigital credentials. Account database 125 may be hosted by a separatecomputing system other than system 120, as appropriate. FIGS. 2 and 3below provide additional information about several exemplary processesfor determining eligibility to receive media streams.

The media streams that are provided to the various client devices105-108 may emanate from any number of servers or other sources onnetwork 115. In various embodiments, a content delivery network (CDN) ormedia server 130 provides streaming content using any open orproprietary formats. Examples of applications that may make use of themedia streaming authorization techniques described herein include IPTV,RSDVRs, video on demand (VOD), placeshifting and/or the like. In atypical implementation, authorization server 120 will process streamrequests received from different user devices 105-108 and will thennotify the media streaming host 130 when streams are approved. Otherembodiments may combine some or all of the functions of authorizationserver 120 and media host 130 as desired.

Many families now operate numerous devices 105-108 that are capable ofprocessing media streams. FIG. 1 shows a user's home environment 102 toinclude multiple devices 105-108 that communicate using network 115.Devices that are capable of receiving media streams could include,without limitation, mobile telephones 105, computer systems 106 (such aspersonal, laptop, tablet or other PCs), set top boxes or othertelevision receivers 107, dedicated media players 108, and/or the like.Typically, a user operates any device 105-108 to request a streamingmedia connection from server 130. As noted above, the applicationexecuting on the requesting device 105-108 may be a placeshiftingapplication, an application to obtain IPTV content or video on demand,an RSDVR application, or any other application that obtains mediastreams for playback to the user.

FIG. 1 shows home environment 102 to include all of the devices 105-108logically residing behind a router 104. Router 104 may be any sort ofnetwork bridge, router, repeater, gateway or other device that providesaccess to network 115. A conventional router 104, for example, mayprovide packet routing, access control, security and other functionsassociated with communications between a local area network (LAN) no anda wide area network (WAN) such as network 115. Although the homeenvironment 102 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes only a single LAN no, inpractice the home environment 102 may include any number of wired and/orwireless LANs that typically operate within the geographic proximity ofa home, office or other structure and that are generally under thecontrol of a single user, family or operator. A single family orbusiness entity, for example, typically retains control of the router104 and other computing hardware operating within home environment 102.The home environment 102, then, can be a good indicator of devices104-108 that are owned or operated by the same user. Put another way,devices 104-108 that are known to operate within the same homeenvironment 102 can generally be assumed to be under the control of thesame legitimate user. As devices 105, 106 move away from the homeenvironment 102, however, then security concerns can be increased and/oraccess to media streams can be restricted.

Network 115 is any sort of communications network that allows deliveryof streaming media using a client/server or other communications model.Network 115 could represent the Internet, for example, or any otherpublic or private data communications network, including a telephonenetwork. In the example of FIG. 1, network 115 is accessible via anynumber of access points, such as via a cellular or other mobile phoneconnection 118, a wireless or other network connection 117, and/or thelike. Devices 104-108 and servers 120, 130 may connect to network 115 inany conventional manner using appropriate hardware, software, wired orwireless interfaces, signaling protocols and the like.

As noted above, authorization server 120 grants or denies access tomedia streams based at least in part upon mobility factors 127 of thedevice 105-108 requesting the stream. Mobility factors 127 may include,for example, the network address of the requesting device, the actualphysical location of the requesting device, the mobile or stationarynature of the device, or any other factors as appropriate. The locationof the requesting device may be used in any manner, as defined bybusiness rules 128. Devices 105-108 operating within home environment102, for example, may be approved for additional media streaming eventhough other concurrent media streams may be simultaneously provided toother devices. As a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone 105 or a mobilecomputer 106) moves away from the home environment 102, however,additional restrictions can be imposed in accordance with business rules128. Various techniques for granting and denying access to concurrentvideo streams are described below.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary process 200 to grant or deny access tomultiple simultaneous media streams using geographic or other mobilityinformation. In the illustrated example, two user devices 202 and 203request access to media streams 215 and 225, respectively, fromeligibility server 120. Each of the user devices 202, 203 generallycorresponds to any of the user devices 105-108 described above inconjunction with FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first user device 202 is able to request 211 andreceive approval 212 for a first stream 215 from eligibility server 120as appropriate. Typically, the user device 202 will interact with theeligibility server 120 to authenticate the user as a valid accountholder and to identify the particular content stream that is requested.The stream can be approved or rejected in accordance with the variousbusiness rules 128 and/or any other factors, as appropriate. FIG. 2illustrates an example wherein the first stream is generally acceptedregardless of the position of the requesting device 202. Otherembodiments may use different business rules 128 or other criteria forevaluating and approving either or both of the two streams 215, 225 asdesired.

When a second request 221 is received from a second user device 203,then the eligibility server 120 appropriately determines whether thesecond stream 223 should be approved or rejected based upon thegeographic location or other mobility factors relating to the requestingsecond device 203. In some embodiments, the eligibility server 120suitably determines if the first user device 202 and the second userdevice 203 are co-located.

Co-location can be determined in any manner. If the device 203 isdetermined to be communicating from the user's home network no, forexample, then the device 203 can be assumed to be in a home locationwhere multiple media streams are allowed. The device 203 can bedetermined to be on a home network if the device 203 has the sameeffective network address (e.g., IP address on network 115) as the firstuser device 202, thereby indicating that both the first and seconddevices are operating behind a common router 104. Similarly, if arequesting device 203 has a network address that matches the address ofa set top box 107 or other stationary device that is known to be at thehome location, then the device 203 can be considered to be in the homelocation. Other embodiments could receive a verification from a STB 107or other device known to be operating on the home network no thatindicates that the requesting device 203 is also located on the homenetwork no. If the STB 107 is able to communicate with the device 203using non-routable messages, for example, then the STB 107 could reportback to eligibility server 120 that the requesting device 203 is a homenetwork device that is eligible to receive simultaneous streams. Stillother embodiments could approve the stream 225 if the requesting device203 is known to be a stationary device (e.g., a television, a televisionreceiver, a desktop computer, etc.) rather than a mobile device (e.g., amobile phone, tablet computer or the like). Multiple simultaneousstreams could be allowed to televisions, stationary media players andother household devices, for example, while restricting or limitingstreams that are provided to mobile devices.

Note that some devices 203 could act as “home” devices at some times andas “mobile” devices at other times. A mobile phone, for example, may actas a node on home network no when the user is at home and connected viaa Wifi or similar connection. The same phone, however, may be a mobilenode when the user is accessing the network 115 via a wireless telephoneconnection 118. One way to discern between these two instances would beto consider the network address used by the mobile phone. In the casewhere the phone is communicating via the home network 110, then thedevice's IP or other address on network 115 should be the same (or verysimilar) as other devices operating behind router 104. That is, alldevices operating behind router 104 will typically share an addressassociated with interface 119. This common network address can be usedto approve concurrent streaming connections to multiple devices.

Other co-location techniques could consider the actual geographiclocation of the requesting device 203 as appropriate. Even if thenetwork addresses of the two requesting devices 202 and 203 do notmatch, for example, they may still indicate close geographic proximitybased upon geolocation data found in database 126. That is, if bothdevices 202 and 203 are using IP or other network addresses that areknown to be associated with the same geographic area or that are knownto be associated with the same geographic area (e.g., ZIP code) of theuser's known home address, then co-location can be assumed with somelevel of reliability. In still other embodiments, the device couldreport geographic location information obtained from GPS, Wifi zonerecognition, cellular network location and/or other techniques.

Again, the eligibility sever 120 evaluates the location information inview of the applicable business rules 128 to approve or reject therequested media stream. If the requesting device 203 is not in alocation where streaming is allowed, then the stream is rejected(function 223) as appropriate. Conversely, if streaming is allowed, thenthe stream is approved (function 224) so that the device 203 can receivethe requested media stream 225. As noted above, the eligibility server120 may not deliver the stream 225 directly, as shown in FIG. 2, but mayequivalently approve the stream 225 to be delivered from a separateserver operating on network 115 or elsewhere.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary process 30 o to authorize concurrent mediastreams. Process 30 o may be implemented in whole or in part withsoftware instructions that could be stored in memory 122 or elsewhere ineligibility server 120, and that can be executed by processor 122 asappropriate. Equivalent embodiments may use other processing resources(such as cloud processing resources) to implement the various functionsshown in the figure.

With reference now to FIG. 3, an exemplary process 300 suitably beginswhen a request for a media stream is received at the eligibility server120 (function 302). This request may correspond to either of therequests 211 or 221 shown in FIG. 2.

Typically, the eligibility server 120 will initially authenticate therequesting user to verify that the user is a valid account holder, or isotherwise authorized of receive media streams within system 100(function 304). This authentication may involve verifying auserid/password, biometric data, stored cookie data, or other digitalcredential provided by the requesting user device. In someimplementations, the user provides a userid/password that is verifiedagainst information in account database 125 to ensure that the user is avalid account holder. If the user is not valid, then streaming istypically rejected outright (function 305).

If the user is valid, then the eligibility server 120 suitably appliesthe appropriate business rules 128 to approve or reject stream requests.In the example of FIG. 3, the first stream request is approvedregardless of the location of the requesting device (functions 306,310). Other embodiments may still consider the location of the firstrequesting device so that subsequent requests from mobile devices arenot improperly rejected; other business rules and approval/rejectionscenarios could be applied in any number of equivalent embodiments.

Continuing the example of FIG. 3, if the request is not the firstsimultaneous stream (function 306), then the eligibility server 120suitably determines whether the requesting device is stationary ormobile (function 308). In this example, requests from stationary devices(e.g., televisions, television receivers, stationary media players,etc.) are approved (function 310) while requests from mobile devicesundergo further evaluation. Again, equivalent embodiments could applydifferent logic or evaluation criteria as desired.

If the requesting device is a mobile device, then the location of thedevice is considered (function 309). If the mobile device is located athome or another location where streaming is approved (function 312),then the stream is approved 310. As noted previously, streaming to amobile device may also be allowed if the device is currently connectedto a home network 110, if the content requested is not limited, and/orif the user is not currently using all of the available mobile streams,as dictated by business rules 128.

The various concepts, systems, structures and techniques describedherein may be enhanced or otherwise modified in any manner. The generalconcept of geographic approval of media streaming, for example, could beused to restrict streams sent to mobile users who may be travelling toplaces where streaming is not desired or allowed. Content restrictionscould prevent streaming of certain content to foreign countries, forexample, or streaming of content to locations where the content is nototherwise available. A user who lives in the Eastern time zone of theUnited States, for example, may be prevented from streaming liveprogramming to locations in the western United States until thatprogramming has been broadcast to those time zones.

Further embodiments could apply different restrictions on mediastreaming to different types of program content. Some implementationscould allow relatively open streaming of some content while restrictingstreaming of premium or specialized content. Still other implementationscould apply different business rules for different content producers ordistributors; certain networks may have different restrictions on theircontent than other networks, for example, and eligibility server 120could consider the source or type of content in applying business rules128 and/or otherwise approving requests for streaming media.

Many other modifications and enhancements could be provided in a widearray of alternate but equivalent embodiments.

The term “exemplary” is used herein to represent one example, instanceor illustration that may have any number of alternates. Anyimplementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Whileseveral exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoingdetailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number ofalternate but equivalent variations exist, and the examples presentedherein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, orconfiguration of the invention in any way. To the contrary, variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of elementsdescribed without departing from the scope of the claims and their legalequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated process executed by a computersystem to authorize access to a media stream by a mobile device that iscommunicating with the computer system from a geographic location via acellular network, the method comprising: receiving a request from themobile device at the computer system, wherein the request wastransmitted by the mobile device on the cellular network and comprises anetwork address that uniquely identifies the mobile device on thecellular network; verifying that a different device previouslyauthorized by the computer system is receiving a simultaneous mediastream, wherein the different device is communicating with the computersystem via a local area network that is different from the cellularnetwork using a different network address, and wherein the simultaneousmedia stream is received by the different device via the local areanetwork; determining, by the computer system, if the mobile device andthe different device are both located in the same geographic location,wherein the determining comprises providing the network address of themobile device on the cellular network and the different network addressof the different device on the local area network to a geographicdatabase, and the computer system receiving in response informationidentifying the geographic locations of the mobile device and thedifferent device based upon the network address and the differentaddress, respectively; and granting the mobile device, by the computersystem, access to the media stream via the cellular network that isdifferent from the local area network only if the mobile device isdetermined, based upon the response information, to be located at thesame geographic location as the different device previously authorizedby the computer system and otherwise denying the mobile device access tothe media stream via the cellular network.
 2. The automated process ofclaim 1 wherein the media stream is authorized if the geographiclocations of the mobile and different devices are determined based upondata from the geolocation database to be within a threshold distance ofeach other.
 3. The automated process of claim 1 wherein the simultaneoussecond media stream is authorized if the geographic locations of thefirst and second client devices are within a threshold distance of eachother even though the network addresses used by the first and secondclient devices are different.
 4. The automated process of claim 1wherein the mobile and different devices are determined to operate atthe same geographic location if the first network address is determinedto be operating within a predetermined distance from the second networkaddress.
 5. The automated process of claim 1 wherein the requestidentifies a type of the mobile device, and wherein the determiningconsiders the type of the mobile device.
 6. The automated process ofclaim 1 wherein the local area network is an IEEE 802.11 network thatcouples the different device to a router.
 7. The automated process ofclaim 1 wherein the local area network is an IEEE 802.4 network thatcouples the different device to a router.
 8. A computer system toauthorize access to a media stream by a mobile device operating at ageographic location, the computer system comprising: an interface to anetwork; a processor configured to receive a request to establish themedia stream with the mobile device that is transmitted by the mobiledevice via a cellular network, to determine whether the mobile device islocated at a same geographic location as a different client device thatis simultaneously receiving a previously-approved media stream at thesame geographic location but via a different network other than thecellular network, and, if the mobile device is located at the samegeographic location as the different client device, to grant the mobiledevice simultaneous access to the media stream via the cellular network,and to otherwise deny the access to the media stream by the mobiledevice; and a geolocation database stored on a digital storage medium,wherein the geolocation database is configured to receive networkaddresses from the processor and to responsively provide responseinformation indicating the geographic locations of the different clientdevice and the mobile device to the processor based upon the networkaddresses, wherein the mobile device operates on the cellular networkwith a first address and the different client device operates on thedifferent network other than the cellular network with a second address;wherein the processor grants the mobile device access to thesimultaneous media stream via the cellular network only if responseinformation from the geolocation database indicates that the mobiledevice is physically located at the same geographic location as thedifferent client device receiving the previously-approved media streameven though the first and second addresses indicate that the mobiledevice and the different client device are operating on differentnetworks.
 9. The computer system of claim 8 further comprising anaccount database that comprises data associated with each of a pluralityof users, wherein the processor is further configured to query theaccount database to verify that the mobile device and the differentclient device are both associated with a same one of the plurality ofusers.
 10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the local area networkis an IEEE 802.11 network that couples the different device to a router.11. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the local area network is anIEEE 802.4 network that couples the different device to a router.